Paradise Pic of the Week

Uvita cascade and inviting swimming hole.  I had to take a dip to cool off in this beautiful spot…

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Bucket List for Costa Rica

Costa Rica is visited by approximately 2 million tourists per year and each comes here for various reasons, but all enjoy the country’s natural beauty no matter what area they visit.  With so many micro-climates, activities, and sights; this country truly offers something for everyone.  The following is a list of must see’s and do’s.

Zip-Line Tour – These tours are in every part of Costa Rica and some are more adventurous than others.  However, it is always a thrill zipping through the jungle canopy; so look for a reputable tour close to where you are staying.

Arenal Volcano – This is one of the most famous attractions in Costa Rica and if you are lucky you can see this active volcano spewing lava at night from one of the many area hotels.  There is also an amazing hot springs with Jacuzzi temperature waterfalls, cascades, and swimming holes.

La Paz Waterfall Park – This wonderful park has a mini zoo with some of the common and not-so-common wildlife for visitors to see.  Plus they have three large waterfalls with walking trails along side that get you up close and personal with these natural wonders.

Manuel Antonio – The most visited National Park in Costa Rica located right next to Quepos.  The park has some picture perfect post card white sand beaches, tons of wildlife, and more monkeys than people they say.  Also plenty of boutique resorts, fine dining, and shopping.

Sport Fishing – The Pacific coast of Costa Rica has some of the best sport fishing in the World. Feel the rush of catching a Marlin or Sailfish, or catch dinner with a fresh Tuna or Mahi-Mahi.  Sport fishing charters are available many places; but Quepos, Los Suenos, and Tamarindo offer the most options.

Horseback Tour – If you enjoy horseback riding, then you can almost always find a tour on the beach or to a waterfall in various areas of the country.  In the Dominical area Don Lulu’s Horseback Tour to Nauyaca Falls is the most popular.

Rafting – White water rafting is another adventure activity you can enjoy during your stay.  There are many for the whole family up to Class IV and V rapids for experienced rafters.

Surfing – Costa Rica is famous for its World Class waves and many surfers come from all over the globe.  Up North there are “Witch’s Rock” and “Ollie’s Point” which are boat access breaks and down in the Southern most point is Pavones, which is one of the longest waves on the planet.  The Caribbean side has “Salsa Brava” aka the “Costa Rican Pipeline”.  Tons of other more mellow breaks and almost every coastal town has a surf school for beginners to learn.

Bird Watching – Even if you are not an avid birdwatcher you will see all kinds of tropical species daily from Toucans and Parrots to tons of Humming Birds and more.  However, if you want to see the elusive Quetzal you will have to go to the high elevation cloud forests and spend some time there.

Sunset – No matter where you go on the Pacific coast you will surely experience the daily sunset ritual where everyone stops what they are doing and enjoys this moment of tranquility.  Many beach-side bars and restaurants offer a sunset happy hour special.

Turtle Release – From September to November there are various Turtle conservation programs that you can participate in releasing baby turtles.  This is a rewarding and memorable experience for the whole family.

Whale Watching – During months of migration along the coast Whales can be spotted with telescopes or you can take a guided boat tour for a closer encounter.

ATV Tour – Riding four wheelers through the mountain side and to local waterfall or beaches is a fun adventure and available in many tourism destinations throughout the country.

If you cannot do it all in one trip, then you will just have to come back soon!  Pura Vida!!!

Costa Rica Dentists

Going to the dentist is a one of the least favorite places for most people to visit.  Whether they are scared of possible pain, the sound of the drill, or even just the price of the procedure can often be painful on your wallet.  Well, in Costa Rica you still may experience the first two causes of anxiety and fear, but at least any dental procedure here will cost you a fraction of the cost you are used to.  So whether you live here full time or are planning a vacation, you may want to consider getting your dental work done in Costa Rica.

There is even dental tourism to Costa Rica, as there is medical tourism, and it is becoming increasing more popular.  Why not do the ‘2 birds with 1 stone’ strategy of taking a nice tropical vacation and getting your yearly dentist visit out of the way as well.  Dental implants are becoming the standard practice to replace teeth over dentures and this is very expensive elsewhere.  But in Costa Rica you can buy your plane tickets, travel expenses, and have the procedure done all for the same price or less than just the implant back home.  Other common procedures are crowns, bridges, root canals, fillings, porcelain veneers, and whitening treatments.

The main reason to get dental work done in Costa Rica is not to find the cheapest possible dentist, but rather high quality care at a more affordable price.  There are plenty of dentists in Costa Rica and you will see tons of offices throughout San Jose and other mid to large size towns.  However, you should do your research and find one that comes highly recommended by locals or ex-pats and pick an experienced professional with the proper training and practice in your particular procedure.

La Paz Waterfall Gardens

The La Paz Waterfall Gardens is one of the most visited parks in Costa Rica and located less than one hour from San Jose.  This is a great day trip from any hotel in San Jose with a beautiful drive through coffee farms and rolling pastures of grazing dairy cows.  You can also go on nearby coffee tours or visit Poas Volcano, but in order to do everything it would be best to stay at the Peace Lodge Hotel or another Bed & Breakfast in the surrounding countryside.  My mom was recently in town and we went to the park with our family for the day before she left.

Enjoy this video of the La Paz Waterfall gardens.

You first enter the park through the main lodge, restaurant, and gift shop and pay the entrance fee of $20 for local/residents and $35 for visitors.  Then down to the park with animals such as birds, monkeys, cats, and more.

You can enter a dome full of exotic birds and literally be inches from toucans and parrots.

The monkeys and butterflies were our daughter’s favorites.  They do get to see monkeys in the wild at our house all the time, but not the Spider Monkeys and still love seeing all kinds none the less.

The butterfly attraction is a stroll through a flowering garden with butterflies everywhere.  They also have all the different cocoons in their various stages for visitors to see the metamorphosis in person.

A close up encounter with a jaguar (only separated by a thick piece of glass) was a memorable experience and personally my favorite part of the park.  Absolutely amazing to see such a powerful creature so close, that most likely you will never see in the wild.

The reptiles and amphibians are part of the park, but the kids did enjoy the snakes more than I thought they would.  There was the largest Terciopelo (Fer-de-Lance) I have ever seen, and I am definitely scared of seeing of one of those in the wild.  We also got to see some of the exotic frog species first hand.

Throughout the well landscaped park there are flowers and gardens everywhere.  Even a small section of beautiful orchids and another area planted especially to attract humming birds.

The main feature is of course the waterfalls and you walk down a concrete trail and stairway through the jungle.  Do not worry; you do not have to walk back up because there is a bus that takes you back up to the front of the park.  The waterfalls are magnificent and you can get so close that mist sprays on your face.  Truly an unforgettable experience and some of the most scenic waterfalls in Costa Rica.  So forget buying post cards of waterfalls and animals; just take some pictures here to share with your friends and family.  For more information and directions go to the La Paz Waterfall Gardens website: http://www.waterfallgardens.com/

Fishing in Costa Rica

Costa Rica is World famous for its offshore Sport Fishing and the opportunity to catch Marlin, Sailfish, Wahoo, Mahi-Mahi, Tuna, and more.  There are tourists that come here just to fish these rich Pacific waters from Tamarindo in the North, Los Suenos in Herradura and Quepos for the Central Pacific, and Puerto Jimenez in the Southern Pacific Zone.  Although the offshore fishing is the most popular attraction; there is great inshore and mangrove fishing, as well as, the many rivers and shoreline throughout the country.

Offshore Fishing – Sailfish

Deep sea fishing offers the most thrill because it is amazing to reel in a huge sailfish or marlin to experience the exhilarating fight and see them up close.  These fish are ‘catch and release’ only for good reason, as the fishing charters want to protect their resources and give future generations the opportunity to catch them as well.    If you catch a Tuna, then you can often keep only what you can eat and you will have fresh sushi or Tuna steaks for dinner that night.  You can take a professional Sport Fishing charter out of Quepos with Luna Tours (http://www.lunatours.net/).

Sierpe River and Mangrove Fishing

Mangrove fishing is a fun experience as well and lesser known than the offshore fishing.  For those of you that do not want to go over an hour out to sea or get sea sick, then this is a great alternative.  You can catch Red Snapper, Grouper, Rooster Fish, Sea Bass, and Snook in the mangroves.  On the Northern Caribbean side there is a place famous for large Snook.  Around our area in the Southern Pacific Zone, the Sierpe mangroves are the best place to go.  Mangrove fishing is less expensive than offshore because they use less fuel and typically stay in their general area.  You can book a Sierpe fishing tour from Perla del Sur (http://www.perladelsur.net/fishing%20on%20the%20river.html).

River Fishing – “Machaca”

If you do not want to take a tour or get on a boat then bring your rod and reel or even a hand line like many locals and fish the rivers, river mouths, and rocky points any where you want.  This is the most affordable of all because you just need some bait and patience.  You can get bait from some of the local fishers on the beach or find your own little river shrimp.  There is even a river fish called a “Machaca” that eats a certain seed during the month of March and April, so you can fish with just this seed.  No tours that I know of for this type of fishing, but you can give me a call and I will set you up with my brother-in-law who loves to fish and he can point you in the right direction.

El Pavon Tilapia Restaurant

If you are not the fishing type and you want the guarantee of catching a fish, there is El Pavon Tilapia Restaurant near Ojochal.  This is one of our family’s favorite local spots and you go fish for your own lunch.

Whole Fried Tilapia Lunch

I am not the best fisherman and sometimes even need help catching them here, but the staff will take care of you if you are fishing challenged like me.  But no matter your fishing skills you will end up with an amazing lunch like the one pictured above.

Waterfall/Cascade near Tilapia Restaurant

There is even a beautiful waterfall/cascade with a boulder stuck in it a short walk from the restaurant and you can swim and cool off.  Always a fun day for the family at El Pavon Tilapia Restaurant.

And if all else fails, just stop by the local “Pescaria” or little fish market in Dominicalito where they sell all kinds of fish already filleted or whole and even shrimp too!

Life is an Adventure – Dominical Video

This awesome video filmed recently in the Dominical area of Costa Rica is a perfect example of what an adventure packed vacation to Costa Ballena includes.  Or better yet this could be your daily life in paradise!!!

I hope you enjoyed this taste of life in the Southern Zone!  Come on down and see for yourself why this is a truly special place to live or visit. Please check us out at: www.DominicalProperty.com

Manuel Antonio – “DO NOT Feed the Animals!”

Manuel Antonio National Park

Manuel Antonio is the most visited National Park in Costa Rica and as the saying goes, “there are more Monkeys than people.”  The park itself is amazing with spectacular scenery and white sandy beaches, not to mention teaming with wild life.  The Manuel Antonio area has some of the finest hotels and restaurants in all of Costa Rica with many offering absolute breathtaking views.  There are also numerous boutique shops and the large town of Quepos with marina and Regional Airport down the road.  Whether a tourist or resident, living the good life is easy in Manuel Antonio and even the local wildlife has figured this out…..

Posing for a Photo Opportunity

Last time we went Manuel Antonio was during my Mom’s last visit, so we planned a fun day to take the kids to the park.  We got there early right as they were opening and walked along the well maintained trails to the beach, saw a White-Face Monkey posing for some tourists to take pictures and a Three-Toed Sloth hanging out (because that is basically all they do) along the way.

Post Card Setting for a Picnic

Once we got to the beach we settled on a nice shady spot with a post card backdrop and decided to enjoy some cinnamon bread we brought with us.

The Raccoon Culprit

It was a matter of minutes before a Raccoon was 5 feet away scoping us out.  We continued our picnic without paying much attention, and the second we all turned our heads this crafty Raccoon snuck in quickly and snatched the cinnamon bread and ran off!

Got any Cookies Over There?

The Monkeys have figured out people eat picnics at the beach too, and a troop of White-Face Monkeys had made its way down to the beach as well.  They were dive bombing from the trees stealing crackers, cookies, chips, and anything they could from guest’s bags!  It reminded me of the Monkeys from the kids’ movie “Rio” that take the watches and jewelry from tourists.  I walked over with my 4 year old daughter to get a closer look and she happened to be eating a cracker, when a park ranger came over with a stick in her hand (I guess in case of incident with a hungry Monkey or Raccoon).  She told me not to bring my daughter near there with a cracker in her hand because the Monkeys will actually calculate which person is the smallest and weakest in order jump on them to take the cracker.  So we took her advice and waited until she finished her cracker before going to check out the commotion.

Beautiful Scenery Leaving the Park

All in all it was a great family day at Manuel Antonio (minus losing some delicious cinnamon bread) and we will always remember the experience.  So next time you go to Manuel Antonio enjoy the beaches, restaurants, and National Park; but keep your picnic in tightly sealed tupperware or coolers and DO NOT feed the animals…

…they are good enough at feeding themselves!

 

 

 

Playa Matapalo, Costa Rica

Playa Matapalo is a beautiful pristine beach located in between Dominical and Quepos/Manuel Antonio.  Offering miles of secluded sandy coastline to explore and fun waves to surf and play make this one of the area’s best beaches.  Many tourists and buyers alike overlook Playa Matapalo and want to be in Manuel Antonio or Dominical, but it really is an ideal location between the two.  You can be at the Quepos Regional Airport or shopping in Quepos in 20 minutes or at fine restaurants, tropical beaches or national park at Manuel Antonio in 25 minutes.  Playa Dominical and its World famous surfing, multitude of outdoor adventure activities, plus casual beach side restaurants are only 15 minutes away.

Playa Matapalo is small town, but does have some restaurants, a small super market for supplies, even a hardware store, high school, and police station.  Real Estate in Matapalo consists of mostly residential lots with acreage and numerous homes scattered throughout the mountainous jungle terrain.  So whether traveling to the area for the first time or looking to buy, do not pass through Matapalo without taking a look around, you could miss a real opportunity to discover something special!

Costa Rica is Once Again the Happiest Place on Earth

Once again Costa Rica has been determined the Happiest Planet on Earth in the annual Happy Planet Index (H.P.I.) by the New Economic Foundation.  The study ranks countries in terms of life expectancy, the amount of well being experienced by the local population, and environmental impact.  Costa Rica has been in the top 3 since the formation of the first H.P.I. in 2006 and has been #1 for the past 2 years.  No wonder so many people come from all over the world to experience the “Pura Vida” or “Pure Life” and immerse themselves in nature and stunningly beautiful scenery.   The top 10 results for 2012 are as follows:

2012 Happy Planet Index

Country	H.P.I.	Experienced Well-being	Life Expectancy	Ecological Footprint
Costa Rica	64	7.3	79.3	2.5
Vietnam	60.4	5.8	75.2	1.4
Colombia	59.8	6.4	73.7	1.8
Belize	59.3	6.5	76.1	2.1
El Salvador	58.9	6.7	72.2	2.0
Jamaica	58.5	6.2	73.1	1.7
Panama	57.8	7.3	76.1	3.0
Nicaragua	57.1	5.7	74.0	1.6
Venezuela	56.9	7.5	74.4	3.0
Guatemala	56.9	6.3	71.2	1.8

*New Economics Foundation’s annual Happy Planet Index (HPI) 2012

Costa Rica constantly scores high in the H.P.I. rankings for many reasons including high life expectancy, forward thinking in terms of environmental protection, genuinely happy local people, and it is a peaceful country with no military.  Life expectancy in Costa Rica is among some of the longest in the World and it was determined to be a “Blue Zone” country by Dr. Sanjay Gupta of CNN.  The country also actively protects its environment with 25% of its land mass dedicated to reserves or National Parks.  Plus Costa Rica has a goal to be the World’s first carbon neutral country by 2025.  The local people are very happy and you can see this walking down the street when they smile or nod at you for no particular reason.  Try smiling at someone as you walk down the streets of New York City and see if they respond so kindly.  Another contributing factor is that Costa Rica abolished its military in 1949 and remains neutral in global conflicts, thus its nickname the Switzerland of Central America.

So come see why Costa Rica is the Happiest Place on Earth and enjoy the “Pura Vida” in paradise!  If you are interested in purchasing a property, home, or just renting long term to try out the retirement lifestyle in Costa Rica, contact me at Dominical Property for more information.

Private Health Care in Costa Rica

The public health care system in Costa Rica is based on socialized medicine and is actually very good treatment once you are seen by the doctor.  However, due to the bureaucracy of public medicine scheduled appointments can be months, if not years, away.  If there is an emergency they will admit you to the emergency room, but for exams, tests, etc the waiting period can be too long for some to endure.  That is why many opt for the private medicine sector for immediate medical attention and top quality professionals.

You have to pay for private medicine and the public option is free to those that cannot afford it and a small monthly insurance policy for those that can, plus it is part of benefits for full time employees.  However, the private costs are a fraction of that in the U.S., Canada, and Europe.  For example we paid only $3,500 for my wife’s C-section for our most recent daughter’s birth and that included all the medicine and a night in the hospital; compared to $15,000 to $20,000 plus in the U.S.  Costa Rica is also becoming a center for medical tourism due to more affordable plastic surgery, operations, and dental implants.  Customers come from all over the World to have procedures done and then recover in a luxury hotel resort in paradise.

There are also private medical insurance policies you can pay annually that cover part of the costs.  You pay in full for appointments and medical procedures, and then are reimbursed for 60% to 80% of the cost depending on the type of procedure or appointment.  San Jose has some the best private medical facilities and most all of the doctors studied abroad in the U.S. or Europe, speak English, and highly qualified professionals.

The best private hospitals in the country are:
CIMA – http://www.hospitalsanjose.net/index.aspx
Hospital Catolica – http://www.hospitallacatolica.com/eng/index.php
Hospital Clinica Biblia – http://www.clinicabiblica.com/eng/index.php

There are also private clinics throughout the country and CIMA even has a satellite hospital in the Guanacaste.  Both of our children were born in San Isidro, Perez Zeledon at the Hospital Clinica Labrador.  We still go there for our pediatrician who that has an office in the building.   Regular doctor checkups and dentist appointments range for $40 to $75.  And all pharmacies have an onsite doctor you can visit for $20 to $40 for a consultation.

If you are considering moving to Costa Rica and one of your concerns is medical treatment, rest assure there are great options.  Also if you are in need of surgery or dental implants consider traveling to Costa Rica for medical tourism.